The Missouri Dairy Association (MDA) has announced that
the 20th Annual Supreme Junior Dairy Champion Award is now available at all local Missouri
fairs with dairy cow competition.
The award is for the supreme dairy cow (appearance) shown by junior in 4-H or FFA. The MDA
board highly desires 4-H or FFA participants. There is one award per fair and no one individual
can win more than once in the same year. There are no district fair winners unless the winner
has not previously won at a local fair.
Previous year’s winners are eligible to win again. The Supreme Junior Dairy Champion Award
consists of a certificate and a $25 cash award from MDA with statewide recognition in the
Missouri Dairy Update newsletter.
“Over 690 youth have won this award since its inception 19 years ago,” says Lloyd Gunter,
MDA president from Conway and an active dairy farmer. “We continue to receive great
comments from the youth and their families for our support and we appreciate it, but our main
goal is to encourage our youth to participate and show at Missouri’s fine local fairs.
“The MDA board, made up of 11 dairy farmers, feels very strongly about the purpose of the
award and we hope Missouri’s dairy youth will also show at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia,”
“The enthusiasm and pride of our dairy youth in taking proper care of their animals and
displaying their showmanship needs to be recognized by everybody in the State so these youth
are encouraged to continue their involvement in the dairy industry by returning to the family
farm. Missouri is a milk deficit state which presents an opportunity for new producers and the
expansion of existing dairy operations in the State.
“Good luck to all participants in this year’s fair competition across the state,” says Gunter.
“Questions or comments can be directed to the MDA office at 636/519-9300 or
